Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Everything that followed was sheer chaos, rivalling the intensity of a hurricane rescue.

The sight of Ji Ruan, when he was rescued, was heart-wrenching. The bloody figure on the stretcher and the almost fainting Cheng Zizhang from sobbing turned the atmosphere chillingly cold.

Song Ling and Gu Xiuyi both climbed into the ambulance. Rumor had it that the driver was the best from the city's primary hospital. Sitting inside, Song Ling indeed felt the vehicle speeding, with a police car leading the way.

They were moving as quickly as possible, but compared to Ji Ruan's rate of blood loss, it felt agonizingly slow.

Ji Ruan's bleeding seemed relentless.

It wasn’t like the gushing of a major artery; it was more like a steady trickle. It didn't seem to flow profusely, but it wouldn't stop, continuously seeping down his calf, slowly draining his life.

That leg was... ghastly. It was hard to imagine what kind of stone could have inflicted such a wound, with flesh turned inside out, and the calf stained in so much blood that its original color was indiscernible.

Song Ling remembered how Ji Ruan always had such fair skin.

The shirt that had been wrapped around his leg was ruined, drenched in blood. When removed, it was so soaked it was like a towel submerged in a basin for hours, dripping blood profusely as if it was free.

But could Ji Ruan's blood truly be considered worthless?

A national treasure, after all, is an irreplaceable gem, isn't it?

Song Ling, usually unfazed by blood, couldn't bear to look anymore in the ambulance, turning his head and silently chanting Buddhist scriptures.

As for Gu Xiuyi, it was hard for Song Ling to describe. He just held Ji Ruan tightly, and doctors had to forcibly separate them to apply the oxygen mask and connect the heart monitor.

Gu Xiuyi looked outwardly calm without uttering a word, but none of the medical staff perceived him as stable, opting to avoid communicating with him.

All details of Ji Ruan's medical history and allergies were provided by Song Ling, who relayed the information to the doctors.

Once they arrived at the hospital, chaos ensued. By the time Ji Ruan was taken to the emergency room, his blood loss had significantly slowed, showing a pale red hue, and his breathing was faint – all clear signs of severe blood loss.

However, the attending chief physician was a pillar of the department, always composed and swiftly performing necessary checks, coordinating with the surgery room, and arranging urgent blood transfusions. It was probably due to such a doctor being present that Gu Xiuyi could maintain his final shred of sanity.

Yet, there was always someone who didn't read the room. An inquisitive nurse, perhaps new, peeked at Ji Ruan's leg and exclaimed with a sorrowful face, "Oh, the color has faded; he's bled out so much..."

Before Song Ling could even think of silencing her, he watched in horror as her words caused Gu XiuYi to tremble, tears forming in his eyes.

Later, it was said that the young nurse was so traumatized that she avoided facing patients' families for a whole month. She was transferred to the maternity ward, drawing solace from the joy of new life, yet it took her half a year to overcome the shadow that a mere glance from Gu XiuYi cast over her.

Ji Ruan was in the emergency room for quite a while. His rare blood type meant that the hospital's reserves were insufficient, prompting an urgent request for support from the blood center.

Anticipating this, Gu XiuYi had earlier arranged for blood to be flown in from a private hospital in City A, delivered by private jet and given priority to land at the hospital's helipad.

But no matter how hard everyone tried to buy time, instant solutions weren't an option. As Song Ling accompanied Gu XiuYi outside the emergency room, he witnessed Gu XiuYi signing critical condition notices three times, each one within a shorter interval.

It wasn’t until the blood finally arrived, with groups of doctors and nurses rushing into the emergency room carrying blood bags and boxes, that the situation began to stabilize.

At least Gu XiuYi wasn’t called to sign a fourth critical notice.

Song Ling wasn’t sure how long they'd been waiting, but the cold stainless steel bench outside felt hot from his prolonged sitting. He had to stand to stretch his legs.

Meanwhile, Gu XiuYi sat there, motionless and statue-like, with impeccable posture, his fingers intertwined resting on his lap, his face devoid of any expression.

However, his clothes were drenched in blood.

Tentatively, Song Ling offered him a pack of wet wipes. "Maybe clean up a bit..."

Gu XiuYi's gaze met his for a fleeting second, a chilling moment for Song Ling, but he soon looked away, silently accepting the wipes.

The wet wipes Song Ling offered were just the common type, ten in a pack. Gu XiuYi used them all, having been stained with so much blood from holding Ji Ruan.

He meticulously wiped the dried blood off his face, neck, and hands. Some of the stains were stubborn, but he patiently cleaned each finger with precision.

As the moisture spread, the pungent smell of blood from the ambulance filled the air again, but Gu XiuYi seemed unfazed.

The chilling white light outside the operating room matched the sterile walls, casting deep shadows under his eyes, making his expressions even more inscrutable. The elegance with which he wiped away the blood was so eerie it was unsettling.

"Return to City A early tomorrow and prepare a room in our hospital," Gu XiuYi suddenly commanded.

It was one of the few times he had spoken since they arrived. Song Ling immediately responded, "Why?"

"The facilities here are average at best. Ji Ruan can’t recuperate here indefinitely. Once he's stable, I'll take him back."

Song Ling simply nodded, wordlessly.

Gu XiuYi seemed lost in deep contemplation, paying no mind to Song Ling's expression. He stated decisively, "Choose the room at the top floor with the best natural lighting. Starting the day after tomorrow, that entire floor is off-limits to outsiders."

"Opt for a softer mattress; otherwise, Ji Ruan will be restless. Ensure no furniture has sharp edges. Lay thick carpets, and ensure the bathroom has anti-slip measures. Avoid white for bed linens and quilt covers; go with blue."

"Place a fresh bouquet of flowers by the window every day. They should be cute, preferably with dew on them."

"Oh, and," he leaned slightly back, "bring over that fortune cat from Ji Ruan's room. He uses it to hold cherries while eating."

After finishing, he noticed Song Ling's silence and queried, "Is there a problem?"

Song Ling looked as if he'd seen a ghost.

Frozen on the spot, he relied on years of professional composure to respond mechanically, "No... no issues..."

Gu XiuYi's manner of speaking was profoundly unsettling.

Everything he mentioned was based on the assumption that Ji Ruan would be perfectly fine. Yet, when Ji Ruan was rushed to the ER, his vitals had nearly flatlined, and even the doctors weren't optimistic.

But Gu XiuYi?

He seemed not to entertain any other possible outcome, lost in his positive imaginings, yet with a chilling, unwavering resolve.

It felt... like an absurd command, echoing the unquestionable tone he used earlier about the hospital room, not allowing for any unforeseen circumstances.

If before, Song Ling had exaggerated describing Gu XiuYi as terrifying, now he genuinely felt his skin crawl.

Gu XiuYi appeared genuinely mad.

Who can predict fate? Yet, he remained stubborn and indifferent, seemingly demanding fate to bow under his pressure, exhibiting neurosis in its most chilling, composed form.

Song Ling's hairs stood on end, and cold sweat repeatedly drenched his shirt.

Gu XiuYi subtly tilted his head, glancing at Song Ling with a faint frown, seemingly dissatisfied with his earlier response.

Swallowing hard, Song Ling tried to steady himself, "The... the fortune cat? The one with a slightly broken paw?"

At the mention, a gentler emotion briefly shadowed Gu XiuYi's face. Any mention of Ji Ruan always softened him, if only just a bit.

"It's not broken," he corrected, "Ji Ruan modified it intentionally. That way, it can hold cherries for him. Haven't you seen it before?"

Wasn't it just that the kid was too lazy to lift a finger? Weren't you extremely put off when you first met him?

Song Ling was momentarily at a loss for words, but given the circumstances, he didn't dare speak ill of Ji Ruan. He quickly replied, "Alright, I'll make sure it's done when I get back."

Only then did Gu Xiuyi nod, revealing a slightly pleased expression.

Thud—

The door to the emergency room swung open, Gu Xiuyi's face tightened as he quickly stood up to approach.

The usually unflappable director looked somewhat unsteady, with the back of his surgical gown soaked in sweat.

He removed his mask, looked at Gu Xiuyi's furrowed brow, and after a moment, laughed as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders:

"We saved him..."

Gu Xiuyi was taken aback for a moment, as if trying to discern whether the current situation was an illusion.

Then, there was a slight movement between his eyebrows, and his clenched fist unconsciously relaxed as he let out a long sigh.

Only at this moment, after several tense hours since the incident, did his rigid spine show a hint of relaxation.

Even if it was just a slight one, Song Ling knew it was over.

The incredibly weighty, seemingly endless night was finally coming to an end.

What followed were tedious procedures and routine observations. Due to Ji Ruan's unique constitution and fears of subsequent infections, he was immediately transferred to the ICU where no visitors were allowed. As a result, Song Ling was sent away.

Meanwhile, Gu Xiuyi stood outside for a while, looking through the glass. Ji Ruan's face was obscured by various machines, so he kept his eyes fixed on the heart monitor.

Not until the words "All vital signs are normal" were etched into his mind did he leave at the urging of the nurse.

He went straight to the hotel instead of the guesthouse. The guesthouse only felt special because of Ji Ruan.

On the way, Gu Xiuyi bought a pack of cigarettes. He wasn't one to enjoy smoking, nor had he ever been addicted, but tonight, he really needed one.

Once back at the hotel, Gu Xiuyi took out a single cigarette and threw the rest into the trash. He took a lighter and headed to the bathroom, but his legs gave out, and he ended up crouching against the door.

The always resolute and composed Mr. Gu let his wildly racing heart take over only at this very moment.

After what felt like an eternity, he slowly stood up and sat by the edge of the bathtub, his hand trembling as he lit a cigarette.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Ji Ruan.

Gu Xiuyi prided himself on his ability to endure, to handle even unexpected events like tonight with absolute calmness.

What pained him most was one thing—seeing Ji Ruan cry.

On the ambulance, he held Ji Ruan tight. Though Ji Ruan lacked the strength to open his eyes, Gu knew he was conscious. The boy clearly wanted to be held by him.

But Ji Ruan needed treatment. The doctors needed to monitor his vital signs, so they forcefully pulled Ji Ruan from his embrace, placing him onto the cold folding bed and attaching various medical instruments to him.

That's when Ji Ruan's tears started to flow.

Even though he could barely open his eyes, tears poured down relentlessly. Each teardrop felt like countless tiny knives, gradually hollowing out Gu Xiuyi's heart.

The bathroom lights remained off. Gu Xiuyi stayed motionless, not even taking a puff from his cigarette, until the burning ash singed his fingers.

His head drooped low. In the dim silence of the bathroom, he pressed his palms against his eyes, and finally, his shoulders began to quiver subtly.

·

Fortunately, as per the doctors, Ji Ruan had an exceptionally strong will to live.

Despite his frailty, he fought hard, making no mistakes. By the following afternoon, as the sunset glow faded, he was moved out of the ICU to a special care ward.

Gu Xiuyi finally gained the right to be by his side 24/7.

Though his vital signs were stable, Ji Ruan remained unconscious. The doctor explained it was due to significant blood loss and that he was recuperating through sleep. He would wake up in due course.

Ji Ruan lay quietly in the bed, wearing an oxygen mask and looking so peaceful. But Gu Xiuyi couldn’t help but frequently touch him.

Sometimes he’d touch Ji Ruan’s cold fingertips, other times gently cradling his wrist.

The downside of prolonged unconsciousness was relying solely on IV nutrition. In just three days, Ji Ruan had grown alarmingly thin. When Gu Xiuyi enclosed Ji Ruan's wrist, there was a pronounced gap.

If he didn’t eat soon, he'd become even more emaciated.

Hoping to wake the young boy, alongside his worries, Gu Xiuyi would list dishes into Ji Ruan’s ear daily. Naming all of Aunt Zhao’s signature dishes became his norm.

He later remembered that on the day of the accident, he had planned to take Ji Ruan for bass fish, and Ji Ruan had seemed genuinely excited about it.

After pondering for a few seconds, Gu Xiuyi had Aunt Zhao send over the recipe for steamed bass and read it aloud to Ji Ruan every hour.

By the time Ji Ruan was discharged from the hospital, Gu Xiuyi had mastered making an authentic steamed bass dish.

It was the silliest yet most persistent thing Gu Xiuyi had ever done in his life.

Ji Ruan would often cry in his sleep. Wearing the oxygen mask, tears would occasionally trail down, suggesting some hidden distress. Yet, he never seemed to want to wake up and express why.

The same happened on the third day at noon.

A nurse had just come over to change the IV bag. In the brief moment Gu Xiuyi looked away, Ji Ruan began to cry again. Tears slid from the corner of his eyes, dampening his temples and wetting the pillow.

Gu Xiuyi was helpless, resorting to wiping away the tears with tissues. From initial heartbreak, he became increasingly exasperated.

"What are you crying for, little one?" he asked, gently rubbing the corner of Ji Ruan's eyes. "Stop crying. Your eyes are swollen like walnuts. Otherwise, when you wake up, you'll blame me."

"Really, stop crying. It's time to eat. Don't you realize how thin you've become?"

Gu Xiuyi continued speaking to himself. After a while, Ji Ruan's tears stopped, but there was still no sign of him waking up.

With a sigh, Gu Xiuyi unlocked his phone to access the memo app, intending to continue with his daily steamed bass reading plan.

After reading only one line, he caught a glimpse of Ji Ruan's finger moving from the corner of his eye.

Instantly, Gu Xiuyi put down his phone, intensely studying Ji Ruan's hand, then his face, then back to the hand.

Two seconds later, Ji Ruan's finger moved again.

It was evident, undeniably a real movement.

Gu Xiuyi's heart raced, and in the next moment, he pressed the call button for the doctor.

While waiting for the doctor, overwhelming joy made Gu Xiuyi's head spin.

In a daze, with reason momentarily abandoned, he leaned down, intending to plant a fervent kiss on Ji Ruan but hesitated. The outpouring of joy manifested in the gentlest of kisses, landing on Ji Ruan's swollen eyelids.

Minutes later, Ji Ruan slowly stirred awake. After the doctor's examination, he was declared in good condition and even had his oxygen mask, which he had been wearing for three days, removed.

The poor child had been unconscious for three days and now lay dazed in bed, with the imprint of an oxygen mask etched on his cheek.

As long as he wakes up, everything else is of little concern.

The doctor said he needed to start with a light liquid diet and gradually introduce high-nutrition and high-protein foods. Eventually, he could return to a regular diet. Ji Ruan had been severely depleted, and recovery wouldn't happen overnight.

Gu Xiuyi listened carefully, and after the doctor left, he messaged Aunt Zhao to prepare some porridge and soup.

Aunt Zhao had hurried over from City A the day after Ji Ruan's accident, eager to cook for him and anxiously waiting in her hotel room every day.

Seeing Gu Xiuyi's message, she immediately agreed.

After arranging everything, Gu Xiuyi sat by the bed. Ji Ruan looked dazed. Gu Xiuyi touched the imprint on his face and joked, "What are you staring at? Don't recognize me?"

Ji Ruan tilted his head slightly, looking utterly bewildered.

Gu Xiuyi paused, a surge of happiness flooding him, then remembered that Ji Ruan's hearing aid was missing, leaving him in a state of muted silence.

"It's okay," he whispered, gently cradling Ji Ruan's face. He then moved closer, carefully embracing him and letting Ji Ruan lean against him.

Fearing he might hurt Ji Ruan's injured leg, Gu Xiuyi handled him with extreme care.

Ji Ruan had become worryingly thin; Gu Xiuyi could only feel bones. Lacking strength, Ji Ruan could only lean weakly on him, his face and lips pale, gazing up with wide eyes.

A pang of sorrow gripped Gu Xiuyi. He drew Ji Ruan closer, whispering into his left ear, "Don't worry, in a couple of days, we'll go home. We'll get you a new hearing aid, and you'll be able to hear again, alright?"

After several days of deep slumber, Ji Ruan felt oddly detached from the world. It seemed like it took him ages to comprehend Gu Xiuyi's words.

Lost in thought, Ji Ruan gradually sought comfort in Gu Xiuyi's embrace, nodding slightly.

Gu Xiuyi understood that Ji Ruan might still be disoriented, so he held him gently, giving him time to adjust.

After a while, Ji Ruan tugged at Gu Xiuyi's sleeve, trying to speak, but his throat was dry. He barely managed a few words before grimacing. Gu Xiuyi promptly silenced him, fetching lukewarm water from the bedside.

"It's alright, don't speak. I understood. Drink some water."

Ji Ruan appeared completely vulnerable, following Gu Xiuyi's every instruction, sipping water from his hand when told and resting against him afterward.

Gu Xiuyi took out his phone to send a reassuring message to Cheng Zizhang and her daughter, as Ji Ruan had instructed. As he was about to put it away, his hand was suddenly grabbed.

Something outside seemed to capture Ji Yuan's attention, making him grow serious as he sat up straighter, leaning on Gu Xiuyi's arm.

But with his pale complexion and apparent lack of strength, no matter how earnest he appeared, he still looked endearingly cute.

Gu Xiuyi pinched his cheek, as one would to a child, asking, "What's the matter?"

Using his phone screen as a mirror, Ji Yuan then looked up at Gu Xiuyi, saying, "My eyes are swollen..."

Although his tone suggested a hint of complaint, Ji Yuan's frailty made his voice sound weak and pitiful.

"Indeed." Gu Xiuyi gently ran his fingers through Ji Yuan's hair, wanting to ask why he had cried in his sleep.

But Ji Yuan suddenly puffed up his cheeks, exclaiming, "It's all your fault."

Gu Xiuyi: "..."

He really did put the blame on him.

While Gu Xiuyi had anticipated Ji Yuan blaming him, he couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated. He tried reasoning with the still-ill young man, "Why would you blame me?"

Ji Yuan's delicate eyebrows furrowed, and the look he gave Gu Xiuyi was peculiar.

"Wasn't it you who kissed them until they swelled?"

“……？？？”

Gu Xiuyi's smile froze on his face.

The atmosphere grew suddenly still.

Ji Yuan needed to take several breaths after speaking, but seeing Gu Xiuyi's reaction, feeling that he seemed reluctant to admit, Ji Yuan mustered the strength to continue,

"When I woke up just now, didn't you... kiss my eyes? ...Don't think I didn't notice... huff..."

After speaking, he leaned against Gu Xiuyi again and closed his eyes.

So exhausting.

Gu Xiuyi was at a loss for words.

Heaven knows that was the only time he had kissed, a moment of weakness in the face of overwhelming restraint.

Yet, how had it appeared to Ji Ruan as if he was some casual rogue who'd steal a kiss without thought?

"Ji Ruan, I..."

Holding Ji Ruan's cold fingertips, he rapidly thought, trying to formulate a plausible justification for his actions and restore his image in Ji Ruan's eyes.

But as he looked down, Ji Ruan mustered his strength to gaze up at him with such innocent and pure eyes that Gu XiuYi found himself choked up, unable to speak.

After a moment, he averted his gaze. All the words he wanted to say were stuck in his heart. In the end, he managed just one sentence:

"I'm not that kind of person."

"Then, what kind of person are you?"

“……”

Gu XiuYi looked at Ji Ruan, now suspecting that the young man was deliberately mocking him.

The two locked eyes silently for a moment. Ji Ruan's luminous eyes, glistening like shimmering water, broke into a soft smile, revealing a dimple on his cheek.

Gu XiuYi's thoughts swirled, forgetting to contemplate Ji Ruan's intention, with only that dimple occupying his mind.

After three whole days, he finally saw Ji Ruan's dimple again.

After teasing Gu XiuYi for a bit, Ji Ruan felt a little tired, his breathing unsteady.

He completely relaxed, resting his forehead on Gu XiuYi's shoulder, nuzzling it like a sweet little pastry.

Gu XiuYi noticed Ji Ruan's weakening breath, but his tone was exceptionally sincere, with a trace of unvoiced grievance:

"Hold me."